Device for applying a treating solution to sensitized paper



March 7, 1967 susuMu FUKUDA 3,307,466

I DEVICE FOR APPLYING A TREATING SQLUTION TO SENSITIZED PAPER Filed May 15, 1964 INVENTOH fang/w u FMKMZM ATTORNEK? United States Patent Ofiice 3,357,455 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 3,307,466 DEVICE FOR APPLYHNG A TREATENG SGLU- THEN T SENEETIZED PAPER Susumu Fulruda, Kobe, Japan, assignor to Fuii Photo Film Company Limited, KanagaWa-ken, Japan Fiied May 15, 1964-, Ser. No. 367,744 Claims priority, application Japan, May 27, 1963, Edi/27,350 1 Claim. (Cl. 95-89) The present invention relates to a device for applying a treating solution to sensitized paper. More particularly, it relates to a device for treating sensitized paper or film either with a developer or a fixer or with a developer alone, wherein paper or film treated with halogenized silver emulsion for copying purposes, after having been exposed, is processed through two baths, one bath being a developer and the other bath being a fixer, and a paper or film treated with positive sensitizer is, after its exposure, processed through a single bath containing only a developer.

The primary object of this invention is to prevent the aging of treating solution and render it possible to treat with an ever-fresh solution.

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which to make use of a solution to the last drop, whereby the consumption of the solution is decreased and develop ing is greatly simplified and speeded up.

Other objects, advantages and details of the device provided by this invention appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the description referring to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a two-bath type of the device according to this invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are greatly enlarged partial sectional views illustrating the parts of the apparatus in the stationary position, in FIG. 2, and in the operating position, in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device provided by the present invention is illustrated as basically made up of two tanks and eight rollers. Rectangular tanks 1 and 2 are made of plastic resin such as polyethylene or the like, a substance which cannot be corroded either by a developer or by a fixer. Each of the two tanks, 1 and 2, is provided with a pair of slits extending to the full width of the bottom thereof. These slits, in each tank, are spaced longitudinally of the tank bottom, and the upper walls or tops of the tank are provided with small vents through which air may enter the respective tank as the liquid in the tank is withdrawn. Each slit has a pair of flexible plates of flaps 3 and 4 extending downwardly therefrom, these plates normally being in surface-to-surface contact. The plate 3 is substantially longer than the plate 4, and lies against the surface of a roller 7 or 8, extending circumferentially along this surface in the direction of rotation of therespective roller. The plate 4, on the other hand, terminates somewhat short of the adjacent rollers 7 or 8. The plate 3 thus forms a contact flap 10. When rollers 7 and 8 are stationary, plates 3 and 4 press against each other and prevent outflow of liquid from the respective tank 1 or 2. However, when rollers 7 or 8 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows, contact flaps of plates 3 are drawn in the direction of rotation so that plates 3 are separated from plates 4 and the liquid in the respective tank 1 or 2 flows through the opening or spout provided by the separate plates 3 or 4. The developer tank 1 and said fixer tank 2 are mounted on supporters 6 and 6 fitted in the housing 5 in a detachable manner. Beneath each vent are provided applying rollers 7 and 8 that are in opposition to the corresponding lower rollers 9 and 9 in such manner that a contact flap 10 touches the circumferential surface of each applying roller and that copying paper may pass between the applying rollers 7 and 8 and lower rollers 9 and 9.

When in the foregoing device either the applying rollers 7 and 8 or the lower rollers are actuated, then all the other upper and lower rollers respectively rotate in a direction indicated by arrows. When this occurs, and as shown in FIG. 3, a contact flap 10 touching the surface of the roller is drawn in the same direction as the rotating rollers, whereby a certain opening is made between the flexible plates 3 and 4 to cause the fluid in the tank to come through, 'moistening the rollers. A sheet of copying paper fed to the inlet 12 of the rollers with its sensitized surface kept upward is passed between the applying roller and the lower roller in such a manner that the paper is moistened, treated continuously and sent to an outlet 13 for release from the apparatus body. However, when the rollers are stationary, the flaps 3 and 4 engage in each other to form a seal, as best seen in FIG. 2.

To put the matter briefly, this invention provides a means whereby one of the two flexible plates is so arranged as to be drawn in a direction in which the rollers rotate so that an opening is made between the two flexible plates and a minimum amount of solution required is supplied therethrough, with the result that an ever-fresh solution is available for the prevention of aging of solution.

What is claimed is:

A device for applying a treating liquid to a sensitized strip, said device comprising, in combination, a pair of rollers in contact with each other, and including an upper roller and a lower roller, the strip being drawn between said rollers upon rotation of the latter; a treating liqiud tank disposed, in spaced relation, above the upper roller and having a bottom wall formed with a slit extending substantially parallel to the axes of said rollers; and a pair of flexible plates each extending longitudinally of a respective edge of said slit and downwardly toward the surface of said upper roller; the trailing plate, considered with respect to the direction of rotation of said upper roller, terminating in spaced relation to the cylindrical surface of said upper roller, and the leading plate having a contact flap at its lower edge lying against the cylindrical surface of said upper roller and extending in the direction of rotation of said upper roller; said plates, when said rollers are stationary, being in surface contact to prevent flow of liquid from said slit to said upper roller; said leading plate, upon rotation of said rollers, being drawn by its contact flap away from said trailing plate to form a liquid flow passage which is proportional to the angular velocity of said upper roller.

References Elite-d by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1954 France 1/1962 France.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. C. B. PRICE, Assistant Examiner. 

